hiser



(No Model.)

' S. N. HISER.

GASKET TOP PASTENER.

Patented July 4 1893.

lNkENTOl? KWQ'NESSES.

i 4. flaw/Q Z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHERMAN N. HISER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO-THIRDS TO EDGAR N. LUPFER AND CHAS. H. HISER, OF SAME PLACE.

CASKET-TOP FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,577, dated July 4, 1893.

Application filed November 18, 1892. Serial No. 452,398. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SHERMAN N. HISER, a

citizen of theUnited States, residing at S prin g- 7 under the top or casket lid.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fastening device, shown detached, the parts being in the relative position which theyoccupy prior to engagement. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional elevation of the device in place on a casket,

' showing the parts engaged so as to secure the top or lid. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View of the supporting plate, showing the arrangement of the spring catch lever thereon. Figs. 4 and 5 are details.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In the said drawings a, represents the body of a casket; a, the lid or top thereof.

b, is a supporting plate preferably cast in metal integral with a stationary projection or spur b.

c, is the catch lever, which is pivoted to the supporting plate I), on the opposite side thereof from the stationary projection Z), and is provided at its outer or free extremity with a hook-shaped catch 0', and a laterally and downwardly projecting thumb-piece 0 the latter being adapted, when the catch is in place on the lid, to lie under the projecting edge of the said lid and contiguous to the side of the casket body in convenient reach of the fingers of the operator in attaching or detaching the top or lid. This catch lever c, is preferably formed with laterally projecting trunnions 0 formed integral therewith and adapted to rest in corresponding open bearings b formed on the top of the supporting plate 17. A spring (1, secured at one end to the plate I), is adapted to bear against the spring catch 0, preferably in contact with an elevated lug 0 formed thereon, said spring being adapted at its opposite end to rest in a suitable bearing support formed 011 the plate Z), and held therein by fastening lugs 12 formed integral with the plate b, and adapted to be bent down onto the spring, as shown in the drawings, and thus clamp the same firmly in its bearing seat in the plate I). The construction thus produced forms one of the engaging parts of the fastening device and is adapted to be secured to the lid. The opposing part consists essentially of a plate 6, having a suitable opening 6', preferably at the end of the plate, and an engaging lip or projection 6 for the hook-shaped catch 0; this latter is also preferably produced by forming an opening e ,in the plate, one side of which answers for the engaging lip or projection.

In operation the opposing parts of the fastening device are secured to the lid and sides of the casket body, respectively, as before specifiedsuitable recesses being formed in w the lid and body to receive the projecting parts in the common way, as shown. In securing the top in place it is placed on the casket with the stationary projections near the mouth of the openings 6. longitudinally, causing the said projections to enter the openings, said projections being beveled outwardly and downwardly for this purpose. As the lid is pushed firmly to its position it is drawn downwardly by the said projections with the catch lever resting on the plate. As soon as the lid has reached its normal position the hook-shaped end of the catch lever engages with the side e of the opening e and thus holds the parts firmly in their relative positions. The spring actuated catch lever being pivoted directly to the supporting plate, as described, which also carries the stationary projection, and these respective parts being adapted to engage on opposite sides of the catch plate,the tension of the spring causes the parts to be drawn firmly together and yet permits a certain amount of It is slipped yielding movement to compensate for different thicknesses of materials used in lining the casket. The respective parts of these fastening devices when in position on the casket 5 are generally covered by the cloth which forms the lining or covering of the casket; the engaging projections being adapted to project through the cloth, and suitable openings being formed at the points necessary to receive IO the said engaging projections. When so employed in connection with the catch lever, which engages the catch plate from the upper side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I preferably construct the catch plate e, with a depression e, which joins the opening e and at each end of said depression I form openings e adapted to receive the projecting ends of a staple, f, (see Fig. 5) which, when the said plate is in position, is driven through the plate into the recess a, so as to stand flush with the top of said plate and with the engaging side c of the said opening. This staple is driven into position after the covering has been placed over the plate, as shown in Fig. 4, the ends of the staple being forced through the cloth which forms the covering, thus carrying the same into the recess and holding the same firmly at the engaging edge of said opening. By this construction a metallic c wearing surface is secured at the engaging edge of the opening, while at the same time the cloth or covering is held securely in position and thus prevented from interfering with the operation of the catch.

3 5 It will be seen from the above description that a device as thus described is extremely simple in its construction as well as effective in operation.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim- I 1. In a casket top fastener, the combination with a supporting plate having a stationary hook-shaped spur or projection on one side thereof and formed on the other side with open bearings and adjacent malleable spurs or lugs, a catch lever formed integral with projecting trunnions at one end and a hookshaped catch at the otherend, and an elevated bearing projection on one side between said trunnions and said hook-shaped catch, said hook shaped catch lever being further provided with a lateral downwardly projecting thumb piece, a spring for operating said lever, said spring being adapted to rest at one end against the bearingprojection on said lever and at the other between the projecting spurs on said plate and be held by bending said spurs down against said spring, which thus holds all the respective parts together without other means of fastening, substan- 6o tially as specified.

2. In a casket top fastener, the spring actuated catch lever and an engaging plate, said plate beingprovided with an opening to receive said catch lever, perforations adjacent to said opening, a covering for said plate, and a staple adapted to be driven through said covering and perforations, so as to hold and protect said covering adjacent to the edge of said opening, substantially as specified. 7o

3. The combin ation with the spring actuated catch lever and the stationary plate having an engaging opening for said catch lever, a flexible covering for said plate,a recess adjacent to said opening having perforations at each end thereof which pass through said plate, and a staple adapted to pass through said perforations and draw the flexible covering into said recess and stand flush with the top of the said plate and the side of said opening, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of November, A. D. 1892.

SHERMAN N. HISER.

Witnesses:

PAUL A. STALEY, ROBERT C. RODGERS. 

